Alternative Names

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Caplan syndrome is caused by breathing in coal mining dust. This causes inflammation and can lead to the development of many small lung lumps (nodules) and mild asthma-like airway disease.

Some people who have been exposed to the dust have severe lung scarring that makes it difficult for their lungs to carry oxygen to the bloodstream (called progressive massive fibrosis). People with rheumatoid arthritis do not seem more likely to have this complication of scarring.

Caplan syndrome is very rare in the United States.

Symptoms

Signs and tests

Your health care provider will take a detailed medical history that will include questions about your jobs (past and present) and other possible sources of exposure to mining dust. The health care provider will also do a physical exam, paying special attention to any joint and skin disease.